Last-minute Christmas shoppers provide boost for UK retailers

Christmas Eve footfall up 31% on last year across all retail destinations, after lacklustre start to season

Retailers received a boost from a last-minute spree by shoppers on Christmas Eve, with an increase in footfall after a lacklustre festive season.

Footfall was up by 31.1% across all UK retail destinations up until noon on Tuesday compared with Christmas Eve last year, although the date fell on a Sunday in 2023 and so suffered from shorter shopping hours.